To think that if a school early morning club says 7:45 start, that 7:50 is not acceptable?

[orangesandlemonssaythebellsofstclements]

I desperately need a job. I mean, I really really need to take what I can.

I have found one that's perfect for me, which is great, because I've been applying for any old crap tbh, so I'm excited to see something that I actually want to do and can do.

I can't drive, I'm not going into it, but learning to drive isn't an option for me.
This is fine because before I apply for any job I check that public transport routes work for me.

The job I want starts at 9am, but it's in the next town over. There is a bus that stops directly opposite my DD's school that will get me to work for 8:40, so even leaves time if the bus is late.
However, because it's in the next town over, this is the ONLY bus available to get to work as there is only one an hour (back-up plan on rare days bus is cancelled is a taxi but this can't be a regular long term plan due to cost)

This bus leaves at 7:52. Early morning club at my daughter's school starts at 7:45.

I have, on a few sporadic occasions, used this early morning club, and my experience has been that the lady who runs it will often amble casually over to the gates at 7:48, 7:50 or even something like 7:53 and start letting children in.

I absolutely need to be saying goodbye to my daughter and walking away at 7:45 (and yes, I am paying from 7:45) so that I've got enough time to cross the road and get the bus, and allow for the bus to show up a couple of minutes early.

Is it unreasonable to say to the school that I absolutely need to drop her off when it's supposed to open at 7:45 and I can't wait any longer?

The unreliability is making me question whether or not it's worth applying for the job as I may not be able to get there, nor handle the frustration of seeing my bus drive past while this woman gets her act together.

I'm just worried about coming across as petty because I don't think people that rely on public transport really appreciate how important being exactly on time is, and that two minutes does make a difference.

My DH swam every morning and had his routine scheduled down to the minute. The gym is supposed to open at 6am and he always got there a few minutes early. If the gym opened more than two minutes late his morning was off and he’d miss his train. I can tell you in the few days it happened they got a complaint from him! Don’t pussy foot around. Say you rely on the club being open at 7.45 as advertised and demand that it be so. Yes, please be ‘that’ parent in this case.

Say goodbye and leave her at 7:45 am.

Walk across the road and catch your bus. Your daughter will be fine waiting at the school gate for a few minutes. Children all over the country walk to school. Your child is going to be at the school gate and not leave until the school club opens. Other kids will likely arrive as well. Soon she will recognise those other families and feel fine waiting a few minutes with them.

Ask, but also keep an eye out for other parents. I'm always early, as is one other mother, and we're often asked to keep an eye on a friend's child for 2 minutes while they wait for the gate to open.

Some form of transport to the next town like the electric bike really isn't a bad idea either though - if there's safe parking - depending on how reliable the bus is

Ask another parent to watch your child for 5 minutes if you must. They can help you. The Internet can't.

It's actually just occurred to me that I can't really get the bus from home, I need to get it from the school, so I need to go there anyway lol. So a childminder doing drop offs would sadly be pointless.

I hear you!!! I used to hate this!! I had to be at my desk for 8am, no flexibility and it was so stressful. My breakfast club was really punctual and it was still stressful. Just have a polite word, you're not unreasonable.

If you are offered the job I would speak to whoever runs the club and explain the situation with the bus times and that you have to do drop off at exactly 7.45.

Will she have any friends that already go the club - that would be getting dropped off at the same time, i'm sure another parent wouldn't mind you leaving you daughter for a few minutes waiting with their child if you know any of the other mums. Or as PP suggested a local childminder who does drop offs

However, you are using a service which offers care from 7.45, and if you are not getting that service I would speak to the school, it will be them who employs the people who run it

She wasn't asking the internet for help watching her child, she was asking if she was unreasonable to expect the club to open at 7.45.

I would speak to the head and it should be resolved. Organiser probably now thinks it's fine to be a few minutes late because no one seems to care.

It’s fine to speak to them.

also how well do you know other parents who use it?

when my ds used breakfast club it opened at 8 and that wa cutting not fine for another parent as it was. I had a 10 minute commute and did t need to be in work until 8.30 (8.40 at latest) but for da to have time for breakfast and to get bus to school from the central hub he needed to be there at 8.10 latest.

So 3 days a week when she had to leave 8am on the dot id wait with her ds and mine.
The 2 days I worked later and would go into next pay band if I was late by 5 minutes she’d get my ds and meet me in the car park.

it’s worthwhile seeing if any parents will wait with her - especially if she’s older and no problem and just needs an adult present.

This used to infuriate me. Ours didn't open until 8am and I had to be in a meeting two towns over at 8.30. Every second counts.

When mine were young I was often the sole parent supervising children dropped at the door. As they got older, i dropped them off and left.

I feel your pain. I used to have to do the mad dash from the nursery to the bus stop and the schedule was always so tight. I'm freelance now so have time to chill in the mornings and I'm always happy to watch other people's kids if the parents have to dash to work. It's not a problem at all and usually I just check they have their bag and wave them off when the doors open. I hope you can find a parent that is happy to help but also it's reasonable to expect for the doors to open at 7.45.

Absolutely have a word if needed (although not until you actually get the job) -you're not asking for the club to open 10 minutes early you're asking if it could open on time!

But worst comes to worst if the bus stop is the opposite side of the road i don't see any issue in leaving your dd at the gate while you cross over. You can still keep an eye on her etc, its no different in terms of distance to a child running/scootering on ahead.

I would raise this with the head teacher. Politely explain how it’s vital you get that bus. It’s possible they have no idea it’s an issue and the 7.45 opening is informally so that it’s ready for 8am drop off.

However if it says 7.45 it should be open from then! The staff member needs to arrive 5 min earlier

I’d be so stressed with a turnaround time that tight, tbh. Do you need to sign your DD into the breakfast club? That adds minutes even if it does open at 7.45.
I think a chat with the head is entirely reasonable as 7.45 should mean 7.45. Good luck with the job!

You write to the school

dear school I have to use the 07.52 bus to travel to work. The school club starts at 7.45 and allows me time to get to the bus stop on time. The person running the club is not opening the club until 7.50 on some occasions. This is not acceptable as it will make me miss work - only one bus available and I’m paying to use the club.

can you insure that I get the time I pay for as it’s imperative I go to work, being late could cause me to lose my employment.

Sorry, I think I wasn't clear. I took my child to school and met the childminder there just before the gates opened. (waiting till opening time wasn't quite long enough)

Is it definitely owned and run by the school OP? I’m a teacher and we have a similar set up in a mobile classroom in our playground…it’s NOT owned or run by us though, but many parents think it is and complain about it to us. They rent the mobile from us, but it’s a completely independent ASC.

If they are independent, they may be running summer camp/activities there, so you could possibly contact them now and ask the question??

In any event…it’s really sloppy management! If they are opening to accept children at 7:45, they ought to be in setting up at least 20 minutes earlier!

The breakfast club lady needs to get her act together. She is paid to be open from 7.45 and that’s her job. Her not doing her job has a k ok on effect on the ability of others to do/get to their jobs. As a one off maybe it’s excusable but not as a regular occurrence. I would have thought she would have been there earlier turning in the lights and getting the place ready. Definitely speak to the Head or whoever is in charge of the breakfast club as I am sure others feel the same.

You could write at the bottom of the letter it would be helpful if they contact you over this matter

but I’d put it in writting, just the facts nothing more needed

Definitely follow up any communication with the school in writing as written correspondence is required to be kept on file

I do think that paying for a service you would expect staff to be paid too. This would've irritated me knowing that the deputy wasn't getting paid but expected to be on site working from said time.

Overworked or working for free? This is wrong on so many levels.

As others have said I’d wait to see if you get the job but tbh as someone who left a job as I only had minutes between drop offs and getting to work, I’d say it really puts a strain on you. I was so stressed and as a result transferring it to the kids who would be saying ‘quick get out of the car’ to each other. There was times I was debating leaving them alone in a totally isolated area as like you, the teacher hadn’t come on time. Of course don’t forget the odd odd time you can get a taxi if really stuck but do wait until you get the job to worry about all of this

You could write at the bottom of the letter it would be helpful if they contact you over this matter

but I’d put it in writting, just the facts nothing more needed

@orangesandlemonssaythebellsofstclements You can still use a childminder, could there be one near the school and bus stop / on the way to the bus stop? There will probably be childminders that do school drop off.